Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Office of Academic Improvement: Native Hawaiian Education (NHE) Program Assistance Listing Number 84.362A | ED GRANTS 052821 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 052821 001

The Native Hawaiian Education (NHE) Program (Assistance Listing Number 84.362A) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), Office of Academic Improvement. Its core purpose is to fund innovative education projects that are designed specifically around the unique educational needs, culture, and circumstances of Native Hawaiians. This particular competition was tied to pandemic recovery: using funds made available through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act, the program set aside an additional $85 million to support Native Hawaiians and Native Hawaiian communities that were significantly affected by COVID-19. The emphasis is on projects that respond to pandemic-related impacts and are meaningfully distinct from projects previously funded under the regular NHE program, while still staying within the NHE program's statutory framework.

Projects funded under this ARP-supported NHE opportunity must include one or more activities that are authorized under section 6205(a)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended. In practical terms, that means applicants need to build proposals around allowable NHE activities identified in federal law (the detailed list is in the official Federal Register notice and the statute itself). The notice makes a clear distinction between applicants that are new to the program and those that already hold NHE awards. New grantees are allowed to propose projects that address current Native Hawaiian community needs connected to the COVID-19 pandemic. Existing NHE grantees have two basic options: they can propose new initiatives that respond to needs newly identified because of COVID-19, or they can propose expansions or enhancements that build on, leverage, and extend their current NHE-funded work to address additional pandemic-related impacts.

The opportunity also includes important funding restrictions. Even though the authorizing statute includes a wide range of possible educational activities, the ARP NHE funds under this competition cannot be used for acquiring real property or for construction, consistent with 34 CFR 75.533. However, the notice clarifies that this prohibition does not apply to activities that qualify as "minor remodeling" under 34 CFR 77.1. In other words, large-scale building purchases or construction are off-limits, but limited, qualifying facility updates that meet the federal definition of minor remodeling may still be allowable. Applicants would need to check the official notice for the exact boundaries and any documentation expectations connected to those rules.

From an administrative standpoint, the grant is identified as Funding Opportunity Number ED GRANTS 052821 001, and it was posted with applications available on May 28, 2021, with a deadline to transmit applications of July 2, 2021. The Department anticipated making about 36 awards. The listing shows an Award Ceiling of 0, which typically indicates that a specific per-award maximum was not stated in that summary field (applicants would need to rely on the Federal Register notice for any award size guidance, budgeting expectations, or ranges). Eligibility is summarized broadly as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," which is another signal that the definitive eligibility requirements are laid out in the official application notice rather than in the brief synopsis.

For prospective applicants, the synopsis repeatedly stresses that the Federal Register application notice is the controlling document and should be used for the authoritative requirements, including eligibility, priorities, performance measures, pre-application or application requirements, and submission instructions. It also points applicants to the Department of Education's "Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs" (published February 13, 2019, 84 FR 3768) for standardized directions on how to obtain and submit an application. Questions about the program were directed to Joanne Osborne at the U.S. Department of Education (400 Maryland Avenue SW, room 3E306, Washington, DC 20202), by phone at (202) 401-1265, or by email at Hawaiian@ed.gov.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Office of Academic Improvement: Native Hawaiian Education (NHE) Program Assistance Listing Number 84.362A" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.362.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 28, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 02, 2021 Applications Available May 28, 2021. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications July 2, 2021 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Joanne Osborne, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3E306, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone (202) 401-1265. Email Hawaiian@ed.gov.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 36 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for ED GRANTS 052821 001

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